Tuesday, March 12, 2013

The value of literacy

Day 12 of 31 at Two Writing Teachers!
Today I went to the used bookstore after school.  A visit to the bookstore is always dangerous, because I just get lost in delight and end up spending way more time and money than I meant to!  The used bookstore is actually much more dangerous than a regular bookstore, because I'm looking for books for my students, and I know the books are cheap.  (Cheap means I can buy more of them, right?)

Now that I'm finally teaching ELLs, I'm trying so hard to turn my students into readers.  I would spend a million dollars of my own money if that would ensure that every one of my students would find at least one book that speaks to him or her. All students should experience what it's like to lose yourself in a book that's impossible to put down, a book that transports you to another time or place, or a book that puts into words the deepest feelings of your heart.  When students find those books, they will find delight in reading, and I hope they never lose it.

Unfortunately, I don't have a million dollars.  But I'm doing pretty well with Scholastic book orders and the used bookstore!  I'm doing pretty well with students too, slowly but surely letting the books win them over.  It's a never-ending struggle: search for the right book to hook a kid, find more books to keep the new readers hooked, subtly stretch the comfortable readers into new genres and topics.  I didn't realize how difficult this work would be, but those sparks in their eyes are more rewarding than I even imagined.

Today I came home with a slew of cute quotation bookmarks to give away to my classroom slicers, a few beautiful journals to give to the most prolific slicers at the end of the challenge, and a small enough pile of books that I could hold them all: a prudent but exciting selection.

reading and writing delight for my students!
After all, how can you put a price tag on the chance to turn kids into lifelong readers and writers?

7 comments:

  1. Any bookstore makes my heart beat a bit faster. Used bookstores are gold mines. Check with your public library and see when they are having a book sale. Ours does it in the fall and in the spring and you can make a haul for very few dollars. Keep working, and they will follow your passion for literacy.

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    1. I'm hoping there will be a library book sale soon, Elsie! Thanks for the encouragement! :-)

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  2. Aren't teachers the best, Jennifer? I don't think people realize how much personal money is spent on students. The "pile" looks great. You reminded me to send you this link of a great multi-cultural blog I love. Hope it's helpful to you, too. http://www.papertigers.org/wordpress/

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    1. That looks like a neat blog, Linda! Thanks for sharing it! I love finding new multicultural resources!

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  3. I share your desire to turn all students into readers. I have some students who receive learning support who constantly want me to tell them what to read. I am trying so hard to help them develop the confidence and skills to choose their own texts, especially before they leave me at the end of the year for middle school.

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  4. You're so sweet to buy things for your classroom slicers. The journals are great and your stack of books aren't too shabby either. Great shopping!
    Ruth

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  5. Your students will be so thrilled. New books are so exciting--even if they are "used". You have a generous heart and your students are lucky to have you!

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